"Facilitating a Class Twitter Chat"
The article describes how to effectively utilize a twitter chat for a classroom, with tips for pre-chat planning, implementation, and post-chat planning. Chats can be used to track a hashtag, provide immediate feedback, increase student discussion, and teach digital literacy.
3 things I learned:
1) Be sure to communicate with parents what you're doing and provide and opt-out assignments for students with concerned parents.
2) Clearly communicate the goal and purpose of the chat, but encourage student input on proper chat behavior
3) Make sure students understand how to use the forum and provide resources or teach them as necessary
I participated in a twitter chat and slack forum in a college class this year and it was a fantastic class discussion and learning tool. I would love to stay open to the idea of using a tech forum for discussion, especially as I plan on teaching high school. Understanding broader ramifications (like parent approval and student understanding) helps me better plan how to use these in classes.
"3 Tips for Managing Phone Use in Class"
The article gives a very brief rundown on ideas for how to set and communicate clear phone use policies within the classroom to prevent distractions while allowing phones to be used to implement their benefits in the learning process. Ideas include a class-made contract, a "stop light" system to clearly communicate to students how phones will be used in class that day, and clear communication between students and parents.
3 things I learned:
1) 10 years old is the average age kids receive their first cell phone so many mid-elementary teachers need to be developing phone use policies.
2) Sometimes having phones face down on a student's desk results in less usage of the phone than if a student were to keep the phone in their backpack. Since the phone is easily in the teacher's line of sight, it's harder for the student to sneak using it.
3) It is easier to proactively develop phone usage policies from the start of the year than to create a policy in response to student usage.
As a future high school teacher, phone usage is a hot-button issue. I like the article's suggestion of the stop light system to clearly communicate to students how phones will be used in class that day. The students are allowed to use their phone, but expectations of use are clearly established. I would love to implement that in my classroom - maximizing the positive benefits of different apps and programs while minimizing distractions. It's importatnt to keep seeking solutions other educators use and implement and stay ahead of the curve on student's phone usage.
"3 Ways Tech Integration Can Be Detrimental"
The author suggests that technology integration is not helpful to the learning process if the teacher isn't choosing the right resources, isn't intentionally using the technology, and isn't reviewing the data. She argues technology is a great tool, but not if it's being lazily used.
3 things I learned:
1) Review new technology the same way you would review a new textbook. Do background research before using a new program.
2) If you're not checking to see if your students are on task while using technology, you are undermining yourself and it can quickly become a time waster instead of learning builder.
3) It is critical to use the immediate feedback technology provides with formative assessments.
It's easy to see only rainbows and unicorns with technology in the classroom, but this article brings up quality arguments. It's something I will keep in mind, particularly ensuring new technology is researched and the importance of utilizing the data so easily provided through tech use. Ensuring students are responsible using technology is a critical point to keep in mind as well. As I continue to research quality tech to use in the classroom, it's also important to research the arguments to have a well-rounded understanding. By continuously seeking out this information (including on the recommendation sites linked in this article), my classroom can quickly grow in efficiency and effectiveness.
The article describes how to effectively utilize a twitter chat for a classroom, with tips for pre-chat planning, implementation, and post-chat planning. Chats can be used to track a hashtag, provide immediate feedback, increase student discussion, and teach digital literacy.
3 things I learned:
1) Be sure to communicate with parents what you're doing and provide and opt-out assignments for students with concerned parents.
2) Clearly communicate the goal and purpose of the chat, but encourage student input on proper chat behavior
3) Make sure students understand how to use the forum and provide resources or teach them as necessary
I participated in a twitter chat and slack forum in a college class this year and it was a fantastic class discussion and learning tool. I would love to stay open to the idea of using a tech forum for discussion, especially as I plan on teaching high school. Understanding broader ramifications (like parent approval and student understanding) helps me better plan how to use these in classes.
"3 Tips for Managing Phone Use in Class"
The article gives a very brief rundown on ideas for how to set and communicate clear phone use policies within the classroom to prevent distractions while allowing phones to be used to implement their benefits in the learning process. Ideas include a class-made contract, a "stop light" system to clearly communicate to students how phones will be used in class that day, and clear communication between students and parents.
3 things I learned:
1) 10 years old is the average age kids receive their first cell phone so many mid-elementary teachers need to be developing phone use policies.
2) Sometimes having phones face down on a student's desk results in less usage of the phone than if a student were to keep the phone in their backpack. Since the phone is easily in the teacher's line of sight, it's harder for the student to sneak using it.
3) It is easier to proactively develop phone usage policies from the start of the year than to create a policy in response to student usage.
As a future high school teacher, phone usage is a hot-button issue. I like the article's suggestion of the stop light system to clearly communicate to students how phones will be used in class that day. The students are allowed to use their phone, but expectations of use are clearly established. I would love to implement that in my classroom - maximizing the positive benefits of different apps and programs while minimizing distractions. It's importatnt to keep seeking solutions other educators use and implement and stay ahead of the curve on student's phone usage.
"3 Ways Tech Integration Can Be Detrimental"
The author suggests that technology integration is not helpful to the learning process if the teacher isn't choosing the right resources, isn't intentionally using the technology, and isn't reviewing the data. She argues technology is a great tool, but not if it's being lazily used.
3 things I learned:
1) Review new technology the same way you would review a new textbook. Do background research before using a new program.
2) If you're not checking to see if your students are on task while using technology, you are undermining yourself and it can quickly become a time waster instead of learning builder.
3) It is critical to use the immediate feedback technology provides with formative assessments.
It's easy to see only rainbows and unicorns with technology in the classroom, but this article brings up quality arguments. It's something I will keep in mind, particularly ensuring new technology is researched and the importance of utilizing the data so easily provided through tech use. Ensuring students are responsible using technology is a critical point to keep in mind as well. As I continue to research quality tech to use in the classroom, it's also important to research the arguments to have a well-rounded understanding. By continuously seeking out this information (including on the recommendation sites linked in this article), my classroom can quickly grow in efficiency and effectiveness.
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